The powerful propellers of the airboats are useful to push forward the weeds

In recent years, Bengaluru’s lakes have become dumping grounds for trash and toxic content. The pollution levels of the water bodies is being taken up by environmentalists and conscious residents alike as a matter of concern that deserves serious intervention.

It is perhaps not surprising than that an initiative to clean lakes more efficiently has emerged from the city. The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), a city-based aerospace firm, has come up with an innovative solution to deal with the cleaning of mushy and dirty lakes.

NAL has developed an airboat which can push weeds and other contaminants towards the surface of the lake, from where it is easier to take them out.

According to a report in Times of India the airboat will be tested at Ulsoor Lake in a few weeks along with the army’s Madras Engineers Group personnel.

It is comparatively easier to clean the borders of a lake, however it takes lot of time, energy and manpower to clean weeds in the middle of any lake.

NAL chief scientist S Selvarajan said, “The airboat will have an air propulsion system which will push it forward. The boat will also have a flat bottom. This kind of boat is ideal for cleaning water bodies. The boat can be pushed into the water and can be scooped out easily. Besides, they have good buoyancy.”

The air propulsion system different air boats from conventional motor boats, and enabled weeds to be cleared from marshy lakes. While the powerful propellers are useful to push forward the weeds, the power generated by the air prevents the engine from getting jammed.

As NAL is located close to Bellandur Lake, whose dire condition has grabbed headlines in recent months, the boat can also be tested there. According to Selvarajan, if the trials go well these air boats can be taken up for production by the industry.

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A Mechanical Engineer-turned-writer, Manabi finds solace in writing stories about unsung heroes. Nothing makes her happier than the impact emails from her readers. Other than writing, she loves listening to the stories told by her six year old daughter. Manabi can be reached at manabi@thebetterindia.com. You can also find her tweets @manabi5